THE LIFE 

—AND- 

BASE BALL GJIREER 

—OP— 

"FROG EYE" 

- 'f^ [Zimi T. MEREDYTH]. 

BY HOWARD l/hASTINOS. 



JoHX F. Williams, Printer, Shelbyville, Ky. 

^ '- • 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in 
the year 1895, by 
HOWAKD L. HASTINGS, 
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, 
at Washington, D. C. 



r 



TO THE 
MEMBERS OF THE 

SHELBYVILLE BASE BALL CLUB, 

SEASON OF 1894, THIS BOOK 
IS AFFECTIONATELY 
INSCRIBED. 
H. L. H. 




THE LIFE 

_AND— 

BASE BALL CAREER 

— OF— 

-FROQ EYE.'' 



LAUDE T. MEREDYTH. who is a 

son of a wealthy old farmer, is 
one of the joUiest and wittiest 
young men I ever knew, and is 
also a remarkable base ball player, to 
whose name tiiere is a long and happj^ 
career. 

He was born December 23, 1873, at 
Shepherdsville. Bullitt County. Ky., and 
commenced playing ball on tlie com- 
mons at that place when fifteen years of 
age, since which time, with the except 
tion of three years while he attended 
school, at Pleasureville. Ky., at which 
place he began his career as a base ball 
player, he has played and been captain 
of many fine amateur teams of Kentucky, 
one of which was the famous "Old Pleas- 




ureville i^ine," better known as the 
"Crack Amateur Team of the State," 
and a terror to all opposing pitcliers. 

This team was managed by 1. N. Le- 
Compte and captained b}^ G. D. Ham- 
mond, one of the best base ball players 
of his day, and to whom "Frog Eye" 
attributes his success. During the time 
he was with this team, which was the 
year 1892, the}^ made a tour of the Blue- 
grass Region, visiting Frankfort, Ver- 
sailles, Nicholasville and Harrodsburg, 
winning two out of six games, they 
having onl}^ one pitcher to pitch the six 
games. 

During that summer they played 
twentj-six games, losing onh^ four; two 
to Harrodsburg, one to Frankfort and 
one to the Deppens, of Louisville. 

In 1893 he visited Taylorsville (the 
home of Scott Stratton) with the rest of 
his team, and played three games, but 
lost, as Stratton was umpire. He 
coached very hard during these games, 
making fun for the spectators, for he 
w^as full of jokes, and at which time he 
received the name "Frog Eye," which 
is now famous with all lovers of base 
ball in Kentucky. 



Scott Stratton was umpiring one of 
these games and Claude told him he had 
ail eagle eye. Mr. Ben Bennett, who 
was then jailer of Shelbj' eonnty, took 
him to the grand stand and introduced 
him as "'Frog Eye' one of the jolliest 
and cleverest base ball players on the 
green diamond." 

After the return home of this famous 
old team he was promoted to the Cap- 
tainc3\ but soon afterward received an 
offer from the manager of the Lexing- 
tons to play with their team, which was 
composed of Joe Summers, of National 
League fame; Bert, Keenan, Reeder, 
Wentz. McGann, Hall Scott. Wallace, 
Conovei" and Bradley, all of whom were 
receiving good salaries. Conover, who 
was considered the best pitcher in the 
State, pitched for tlie Lexingtons, and 
''Frog Eye*' went to the bat four times, 
making two singles, one triple and one 
home run, making in all nine bases. 
Soon after he arrived home he received 
a telegram from the Lexington Manager 
to come at once, which he did. This 
was his first engagement as a profes- 
sional base ball player, and when he 
first received a salary. 



He was assigned to play right field, 
and at the end of the season ranked 
among the heav\^ hitters, jDlaying splen- 
did ball. 

One of the most exciting games in 
which he ever played was with Lexing- 
ton, against the Ironton (Ohio) Nine, 
which lasted thirteen innings and re- 
sulted in a victory for Lexington by the 
score of six to five. Mercer, now of the 
Washington (D. C.) League pitched for 
the Irontons, and Bradley for Lexington. 

"Frog Eye"' considers Mercer the 
best pitcher he ever faced, although he 
made two hits off him. 

One of the finest plays "Frog Eye" 
made was in a game with the Norwoods, 
of Cincinnati. He was playing deep 
field for a heavy hitter, who knocked a 
grounder out in the field. "Frog Eye" 
started for it on a dead run and suc- 
ceeded in scooping it up off his shoe, 
falling on his face but holding the ball 
safe in his liand, which play saved the 
day for the Lexingtons. 

In 1894 "Frog Eye" was playing with 
the Versailles team, with whom he ac- 
complished the greatest play of his life, 
up to that time. In a game with Yer- 



sailles. against the Georgetowns, he was 
playing close to second base, when the 
batter knocked a liner over the bag and 
he made a dive for the ball, stopping it 
with his left and catching it with his 
right hand. There was a man playing 
off second and a man placing off first, 
and when the batter hit the ball they 
started for their next bases, but "Frog 
Eye'' t(mched second base in time to 
catch the runner, then touched the run- 
ner on first, completing a triple play 
unassisted. 

He went from Versailles to Shelby- 
ville. which club, he says, was the best 
he ever played with, defeating clubs 
from Ken lucky and Indiana, and com- 
posed of the following players: Here 
Burnett, Chick Crane. George Stultz, 
Denny McGann. Dennis Murphy. Ed 
Blumer, Russell Hall. Chas. Harrison, 
L. Black, Claude T. Meredyth. 

The greatest victory "Frog Eye" ever 
helped to win for Shelby ville was from 
Frankfort, winning by the score of 
eight to nothing. He also pla3"ed in the 
game with Shelbyville against Louisville 
League Club, the latter winning by the 
close score of three to two, Stultz pitch- 



in^ one of the linest games of his life, 
the Loiiisvilles making on I}' two hits. 

Tlie best play "Frog Eye'' ever made 
for Shelb^^ville was catching a sliort li}' 
over second base, turning and doubling 
the runner at fir,-t. 

When the Shelbyville club disbanded 
he had offei's from Paris, Cynthiana, 
Mt. Sterling, Hopkinsville and Lexing- 
ton, accepti-ng the first named city's 
offer, staying with that club until the 
close of the season. 

Famous old 'Trog Eye'' says tlie 
finest base ball x>lt^yer he ever phiyed 
with was Clyde Johnson. Avho was Avith 
the Lexington team the season of 1894. 

The only fault I find Avith "Frog 
Eye" is that he is afraid of snakes and 
also teases his managers. He was a 
man who played for his team even when 
he was sick and liurt. Whole-souled 
and happy-hearted, at all times doing 
his duty as a ball player. He is still 
living Avitli his devoted little wife in his 
country home near Pleasure ville, Ky., 
the home of some of the best amateur 
base ball players in Kentucky. 

In 1892 he liad a batting average of 
355; in 1893, 330; in 1894, 348. 

10 



I think the last I heard of poor old 
'•Frog Eye," he had been arrested for 
stealing too many bases, but hope he 
will be on hand with his famous little 
bat and black glove when the season of 
1895 opens. 

RECORD 



^^^.F the pla^^ers of the Shelbyyille 
team in three or four of the 
A\w/ liardest fought games during the 

^^^^ season of 1894, in the games with 
Shelbyville vs. Louisville, Lexington, 
Versailles and Frankfort. 

CHAS. HARIIISON, 

Who was captain and second baseman 
for the Shelbyville team, was at bat 20 
times, made 5 hits, 7 runs and stole 3 
bases. He was a good second baseman, 
and ranked among the heavy hitters of 
the team. 

LUTHER BLACK, 

Who played first base, was at bat 20 
times, made 5 hits, 8 runs, and stole 2 
bases. Black was one of the best first 
basemen who ever played on the Shel- 
byville grounds, and was a fine hitter. 
11 



KUSSELL HALL 

Played third base and plaj^ed his posi- 
tion well. He was a good thrower and 
base runner, and also had a cute way of 
pushing the base runner off third base 
as he came running from second, and 
the umpire would call the runner out, 
nine times out of ten. He Avas with the 
Mt. Sterlings during three of these 
games, but in the Frankfort game he 
was at bat 5 times, made 3 hits. 2 runs, 
and stole 3 bases. This season "Shag"' 
will pla}^ with the Maj^sville team. 

CLAUDE T. MEREDITH, 

The subject of this book, played short, 
and played his position as well as an}^ 
player who came to Shelbyville last 
year. He was at bat 19 times, made 5 
hits, 6 runs, and stole 2 bases. He has 
signed with the LaFa^^ette (Ind.) team. 

DENNIS MURPHY 

Played left field, and there was never a 
player in Shelbyville who fielded his 
position any better than Murphy. A 
good thrower and hitter, but when he 
failed to make a hit he got mad. He 
was at bat 8 times in two of these games, 
made 2 hits, 5 runs, and stole 2 bases. 



He also made a tine record at Cynthi- 
aiia the latter part of last season. 

DENNY M'GANN 

Caught most of the games and had a 
good record. He was a tine catcher and 
second baseman, a good thrower and 
runner, and also a tine judge of base 
ball. He was at bat 15 times in three of 
these games, made 3 hits, 7 runs, and 
stole 3 bases. He had a good record at 
Lexington the latter part of last season. 
Maysville was indeed fortunate in secur- 
ing Denny for this season. 

ED BLUMER 

Pitched liis sliare of the games and made 
many tine l)atters strike out hy his wide 
curves, which gave liim a wide reputa- 
tion among amateur teams of Kentucky. 
He was at bat 9 times in two of these 
games, made 1 hit, 1 run, and stole 1 
base. 

GEORGE STULTZ 

Was another tine pitcher of wide repu- 
tation. He pitched against the Louis- 
ville club, holding them down to three 
hits and striking several of them out in 
the tirst game played at Shelbyville. He 
pitched for the Boston League team the 

13 



latter part of the season, against Louis- 
ville, and for the second time held them 
down to three or four scattering hits, 
and at the close of the game Manager 
Selee made arrangements with him to 
play with the Bostons. ]}ut I think iie is 
too YOung and not heavy enough to hold 
out now. Selee has loaned him to Kan- 
sas City. Stulrz was at bat 21 times in 
these four games, made S hits, 8 runs, 
and stole 1 l3ase. 

"CHIC"' CRANE. 

As he is called, was a good all-around 
man. a very fast runner, tine liitter and 
thrower. He plays with Al McFarland's 
team tiiis year. He and Burnett were 
the fastest runners on the Shelbyville 
team. He was at bat 21 times, made 7 
hits. 5 runs, and stole 2 bases. 

HERC BURNETT, 

The slugger, was. like Crane, a good 
man for any place: a fast runner, tine 
thrower and a great hitter. Here had a 
habit of knocking the ball into the 
creek when there were two or three men 
on bases. He was at bat 18 times in 
these fotir games, made 11 hits. 8 runs, 
and stole T bases. 



HARRY CURRY 

Was a very good player, but did not 
play with the team very long. He made 
one very remarkable play when he was 
playing in left field. The ball was 
knocked over his head; he turned, ran 
with the ball, catching it with one hand 
as it was going over the fence into the 
creek. 

J. L. cox, 

Of Taylorsville, played with the team 
a short time, and had a good record 
wlien he left. 



For information about riding on hog 
trains apply to "Frog Eye'' or Horace 
McFarland, as the}^ rode to Louisville 
on a hog train when the LaFayette 
team disbanded. 



15 



Who Can Guess How the League 
Clubs Will Finish? 

I will GIVE AWAY, FREE, to the first person 
sending me the correct guess as to how the League 
Clubs will stand at the close of the season of 18i)5, 
one year's subscription to the Sporting News, a 
base ball paper, of St. Louis. Mo. Five copies of 
this book to the second correct guesser. three copies 
to the third correct guesser, one copy to the fourth 
correct guesser. 



My guess as to the order in which the League 
Clubs will stand at the close of the championship 
season of 1895 is as follows: 

1 

2. « , 

3.. 

4 

5....„ 

6............... 

7 

8 

9... 

10 

11 

12 , 

Name 

Address.. 

Date 

In order to give everyone a fair chance to win, 
each guess will be numbered in the order received. 
All guesses must be in by July 4, 1895. 

HOWARD L. Hastings, 

P.O. Box IL SHELBYVILLE, KY. 



WHEN IN LOUISVILLE 
Go to WILL H. DAY, 



FOURTH 
AVENUE, 



^ / Fott FlfiH CAJSLDIES, 
CANDY BOXES 
/ \ ^ And BASKHTS. 



ICE CREAM 
SODA WATER- 

A Specialty. 



PRINCE WELLS, 

FOURTH AVENUE, 
UOOlSVILiLiE, KV., 
SELLS THE 

Rambler, o^Voi^T 
Crescent > — ^ 
And Speed ' 

o» I Riding School 

Bicyeles. in \\i Gitn. 



J. W, REGC1U8 i BRO., 



Headquarters for 

Base Ball Supplies, 
Indian Clubs, 
If,,,, Dumb Bells, 
ceiUrated BoxIng Qloves, 
Louisville Striking Bags, 

Lawn Tennis, 
Croquet, Hammocks 

327 FOURTH AVENUE, 
liOUlSVIULiE, - - KV. 



JOflES St {^flJVlBO, 

Dealers in 

Staple 
and pancy 
Gt^ocemes, 

ISlICHOLiASVlliliE, I^Y. 



xs^m^ GO TO — 

HflSTiHOs/ 

Fancy Groeefies, 
Candies, 
^« Cigaps and Tobacco, 
FOR . Smokers* Goods 

all kinds. 

Stationery, 
Sporting Goods Etc, 

Ice Cream and Soda Water a Specialty. 



HOWARD L HASTINGS, 

SHHliBYVILiliE, KV., 

CAN SELL YOU A 

Rambler Bicycle for $100. 
Crescent, from $40 to $90. 
Speeds, from... 40 to 90. 



A. ROTHCHILD & SON, 

— Dealers ix — 

Clotliiiii] f FifiTiisliiiig Goofls, 

BOOTS AND Sx^OES. 
SHELBYVILLE, - - KY. 

GO TO — ^ 

E, C, X J, B, BLUPR, 
^ Nice, Tender, 
FOR Fresh Meats 
^ Of all kinds. 

Also, a full stock of 

j4ai^s, B. B. Liard, Sausages 
Hte., eonstantly on hand. 



Subscribe for the 

KENTUCKY • MONITOR, 

TAYLORSVILLE, KY.— $i a Year. 



